About Us

We’ve been thrilling audiences since 2005… 

 

Some key facts:

 

  • The Bray Air Display is one of Ireland’s largest free events, attracting the largest single-family audience. It’s estimated that the event contributes €3.5 million to the local economy*.
  • It is a fantastic community-organised event that is the lead tourism event in Wicklow.
  • In addition to being a fantastic free family event, the festival aims to inspire the next generation of aviation enthusiasts to pursue careers in one of Ireland’s leading industries.
  • The event takes place along Bray’s iconic Victorian promenade with the magnificent Bray Head as the backdrop. 
  • The line-up includes the very best Irish and international aerobatic display teams and vintage aircraft. Previously featured RAF Red Arrows, Italy’s Frecce Tricolori, the Breitling Wingwalkers and our very own Irish Air Corps. 
  • Family entertainment includes an amazing funfair, helicopter pleasure flights, corporate hospitality, as well as superb artisan street food – all in all, a great family day out. 
  • The event experience is enhanced with live commentary.
  • Our official souvenir brochure is packed with fascinating articles and information about all aspects of the festival and is available as a free download.
  • Transport infrastructure enables easy access to the event.
  • The festival makes a very significant, positive impact on the town of Bray, the surrounding region and wider Irish society from a social-cultural perspective.
  • It was recognised as ‘Best Festival / Event Experience over 50,000 people’ at the prestigious, national Irish Tourism Industry Awards 2017, in 2018 and 2019 we won Silver in the ‘Best Tourism Initiative’ category at the All-Ireland Community and Council Awards.
  • We continue to create a better, stronger event year after year, ultimately giving sponsors access to a massive national audience from the following categories: ABC1, C2 & D.
  • In 2025, our social media reach was 1.3 million, with +146k website visits and 12.7k digital downloads of the Official Souvenir Programme.
  • The festival was featured extensively in the media, with stories across TV, radio, print, and online platforms, including RTE News, Virgin Media News, Ireland AM, 2FM, RTE Radio One, Today FM, Newstalk, and other commercial and independent radio stations.

 

*Economic evaluation is an estimate using data compiled via a survey, hotelier/business insight analysis and corporate ticket sales. 

 

We’re playing our part in Ireland’s journey to combat climate change

 

The Bray Air Display has always been committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. The event organisers have taken significant steps to promote sustainability, and these efforts align with the Irish Government’s Climate Action Plans. Additionally, we are using Fáilte Ireland’s Climate Action Business Support Portal to help achieve the ambitious targets.

The road ahead is not easy, but the festival is committed to mitigating its environmental impact. Since 2019, it has been establishing baselines for our carbon emissions and is currently calculating the event’s carbon footprint for 2026.

 

Our six steps to successful climate action:

 

  1. Measuring our impact: Utilising methodologies to measure and validate all emissions.
  2. Decarbonisation: Establishing how we achieve science-based targets for reducing emissions and track reductions.
  3. Roadmap: Develop a roadmap that establishes where carbon reductions can be made.
  4. Making a commitment: Make a public declaration of commitment.
  5. Collaboration: Develop and foster partnerships, share knowledge, and learn from others.
  6. Financing: Investing in our green transition.

 

Greener tourism

With its award-winning reputation and world-class vision for the future, the Bray Air Display aims to lead the way in sustainable and eco-friendly tourism. Whilst it is undeniable that the event relies on aviation, environmental impact research published by the British Air Display Association (BADA) in June 2025 indicates that display aircraft contribute less than 1% of an airshow’s overall carbon footprint on average. Instead, the vast majority of emissions stem from visitor travel. Our charter, therefore, focuses on high-impact event logistics—such as working with our public transport partners to enhance transportation infrastructure and utilising local supply chains—to minimise our overall footprint whilst preserving the core spectacle of the aerial display.

 

You can read more about our sustainability journey so far, our Environmental Action Plan and key guiding principles here.

 

See you in August… 

 

The #BrayAirDisplay takes off on Saturday, August 1st, 2026, only!

 

 

As well as the entertainment in the sky, there’s plenty of action on the ground! Dive into the high-energy buzz of the Seafront Funfair, then discover the cutting-edge “Future of Flight” Tech Zone, presented in collaboration with the Drone Innovation Partnership (DIP). Building on last year’s success, this space returns to showcase advanced drone technology making a real difference with interactive features, including hands-on VR experiences and a live drone take-off demonstration! You can also marvel at the impressive static display and information hub hosted by the Irish Defence Forces, and get up close with a collection of model aircraft showcased by the Model Aeronautics Council of Ireland. When it’s time to refuel, the Food and Craft Village is bursting with mouthwatering treats and artisan treasures. For the ultimate thrill, don’t miss the chance to soar above the coastline on a breathtaking helicopter ride over Bray Head! The ground action kicks off from noon, with the awe-inspiring Bray Air Display taking to the skies at 3 pm sharp.

Aircraft line-up, air display, air display times, and all ground events and activities are subject to change without notice and may depend on the weather.

 

The #BrayAirDisplay is managed by Bray Summerfest, with thanks to our partners bray.ie, Irish Air Corps, Saab, Weston Airport and Wicklow County Council.

The #BrayAirDisplay wouldn’t happen without the support and help of our 2026 partners, sponsors, advertisers, many state agencies and organisations, as well as the enthusiasm and expertise of the volunteers who make this event possible: 

 

  • Aer Lingus
  • AerCap / AerCap Holdings N.V. (AER)
  • AirNav
  • An Garda Síochána
  • Artisan Events
  • Bray Municipal District Council & all the staff
  • Bray Sailing Club
  • bray.ie / Bray Tourism
  • Deutsche Aircraft GmbH
  • Dublin Airport
  • Dublin Bus
  • Dublin City Council
  • Dublin Drone Innovation Partnership (DIP)
  • East Coast FM
  • Emerald Airlines
  • Executive Helicopters
  • Falko
  • Finnegan Bray
  • Go-Ahead Ireland
  • Irish Air Corps
  • Irish Aviation Authority
  • Irish Coast Guard
  • Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission
  • Irish Rail
  • Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)
  • LERO
  • Luas
  • Maynooth University
  • Media outlets
  • Millennium Events
  • National Transport Authority
  • Nissan Ireland
  • Óglaigh na hÉireann – Irish Defence Forces
  • Order of Malta Ireland
  • Participating display teams, performers, individual pilots, their teams and airlines
  • Raw Marketing
  • Research Ireland
  • Respective statutory bodies
  • Saab
  • Simtech Aviation
  • Smart Dublin
  • The Irish Aviation Authority
  • The ISPCA
  • The Martello Hotel Bray
  • The National Flight Centre
  • Transport for Ireland
  • Walkers Professional Services
  • Weston Airport
  • Wicklow County Council
  • Wicklow Fire Service
  • And the great support, enthusiasm and expertise of the many volunteers

 

To the people of Bray, particularly the residents and businesses of Strand Road and the surrounding areas, we would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued assistance and support over the last 19 years.

Our Team

Our team includes highly skilled and experienced professionals ranging from project managers, event management, and specialised experts to designers:

  • Bray Air Display Director: Sé Pardy
  • Event Controller: Mick Glynn
  • Wicklow County Council Liaison: Brian Wildes (Serving as the vital bridge between the event and the local council to oversee public infrastructure and logistics).
  • Operations Admin: Terry Symmans, Andrea Gallagher, Mick Glynn and Rebecca McKenna
  • Commentary: Michael Comyn
  • Design, Marketing, Communications & Digital: Paul Carney
  • PR: Louise Cassidy
  • Hospitality: Wendy Walsh
  • Programme: Brosna Press
  • Programme Distribution: Lorraine Bergin
  • ATC: Darren Pollard, Keith McEvoy, and their colleagues in ATC Dublin and ATC Baldonnel
  • FCC: Maria Sweeney, David O’Riordan and Pat Lanigan Ryan
  • Regulatory Liaison: Ruth Bagnell and Maria Sweeney
  • Offshore Ops: Irish Naval Service and the Bray Sailing Club
  • Transport: Michael Coughlan
  • Heli Marshallers: Kieran Cushnahan, Michael Bergin, Gerry Reidy, Rob Merrigan and Dave Collen
  • Heli Services: Executive Helicopters
  • Supporting Airports: Weston, Baldonnel and Dublin Airport
  • Comms: Jerry Dawson and Robert Daranowski

Have a look at our highlights previous years below:

About Us